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Kerry was founded in 1972 in Listowel, County Kerry as a private company with three shareholders – state-owned Dairy Disposal Company (42.5%), a Federation of eight small farmer co-operatives in Kerry (42.5%) and Erie Casein Company Inc. from the US (15%).[3]

In March 2004 the company bought the Quest Food Ingredients Group, a food ingredients business, for US $440 million.[4] Then in August 2005 the company acquired Noon Products, a supplier of Indian and Thai ready meals, for £124m.[5]

In September 2011 the company acquired Cargill Flavor System, a manufacturer of food flavouring, for $230 million.[6]

In February 2015 the company acquired Rollover, a supplier of hot dogs.[7] Then in October 2015 the company acquired Red Arrow Products, Island Oasis and Wellmune, three businesses in the US taste and nutrition sector, for US $ 735 million.[8]

Headquartered in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, the Group employs about 24,000 people in its manufacturing, sales and technical centres worldwide.[3] Kerry's global headquarters is in Naas, County Kildare at the groups' €100 million Global Technology and Innovation Centre which employs 900 people.[9] Kerry supplies over 15,000 foods, food ingredients and flavour products to customers in more than 140 countries worldwide.[3]